Evaporator and cooling device

ABSTRACT

Service life of the compressor is extended. The evaporator is provided with the housing having the suction port connectable to the suction portion of the compressor in order to evaporate at least part of a droplet or misty working fluid in the housing by a suction effect of the compressor through the suction port, comprising a filter installed in the housing, the filter dividing a space in the housing into the first space for generating the droplet or misty working fluid and the second space for communicating with the suction port, the filter being inclined away from the suction port as advancing upward, and the filter transmitting therethrough vapor resulting from evaporation of the droplet or misty working fluid while capturing the droplet or misty working fluid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an evaporator and cooling device.

BACKGROUND ART

Various kinds of conventional cooling devices such as refrigerators andice makers for generating cold water and ice have been known (ex. referto Patent Document 1). In such cooling devices, an evaporator leads to acondenser via a compressor. In the evaporator, water is generated in adroplet or misty state as a refrigerant. Pressure in the evaporator isreduced by a suction effect of the compressor, so that part of thedroplet or misty refrigerant is evaporated. The refrigerant is cooleddown by evaporation heat obtained at this time. Evaporated refrigerantvapor is sucked out and compressed by the compressor. The compressedrefrigerant vapor is sent to the condenser and condensed in thecondenser.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a conventional evaporator applied to acooling device as stated above. This evaporator is provided with asuction port 102 b leading to a suction portion of a compressor in aside wall portion 102 a of a housing 102. In the housing 102, arefrigerant is shed from upward in a shower form at a position apartfrom the suction port 102 b, and the shower of the refrigerant is madeinto droplets through a mesh member 104 provided in the midway. Filters106 are vertically erected so as to divide a space in the housing 102into a space for shedding a refrigerant and a space for communicatingwith the suction port 102 b. The filters 106 transmit refrigerant vaportherethrough, and capture a droplet or misty refrigerant which is madeto flow downward. Therefore, refrigerant vapor is exclusivelytransmitted through the filters 106 and sucked out from the suction port102 b in response to suction by the compressor.

In the above conventional evaporator, there are cases that a refrigerantcaptured by the filters 106 flows down along surfaces of the filters 106facing to the suction port 102 b, and splashes are generated byscattering of the refrigerant flowing down. In this case, refrigerantdroplets flowing down along the surfaces of the filters 106 and splashesof the refrigerant are occasionally sucked out from the suction port 102b due to a suction force of the compressor. Droplets or splashes thussucked out collide with a moving blade of the compressor, causingdamages to the moving blade. Therefore, a problem arises with shortenedservice life of the compressor.

Patent Document 1: National Publication of Translated Version No.2003-534519

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention was achieved to solve the above problems, and anobject thereof is to extend service life of a compressor.

In order to achieve the above object, an evaporator according to thepresent invention is provided with a housing having a suction portconnectable to a suction portion of a compressor in order to evaporateat least part of a droplet or misty working fluid in the housing by asuction effect of the compressor through the suction port, comprising afilter installed in the housing, the filter dividing a space in thehousing into a first space for generating the droplet or misty workingfluid and a second space for communicating with the suction port, thefilter being inclined away from the suction port as advancing upward,and the filter transmitting therethrough vapor resulting fromevaporation of the droplet or misty working fluid while capturing thedroplet or misty working fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fluid circuit diagram of a cooling device according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of an evaporator according to the first embodimentfor being applied to the cooling device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross sectional diagram along a line from III toIII of the evaporator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross sectional diagram of the evaporator alonga line from IV to IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state of setting a filter in theevaporator shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross sectional diagram of an evaporatoraccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state of setting a filter in theevaporator shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state of setting a filter in an evaporatoraccording to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a front view obtained by seeing filters in an evaporatoraccording to a fourth embodiment of the present invention from ageneration space to a communication space;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state of setting a filter in anevaporator according to a modified example of the third embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal cross sectional diagram of a conventionalevaporator applied to a cooling device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below referringto the drawings.

First Embodiment

First, an entire configuration of a cooling device according to a firstembodiment will be explained referring to FIG. 1.

The cooling device according to the first embodiment is used by beingconnected to an air conditioner, where cold water heated up by heatexchange in the air conditioner is cooled down and supplied to the airconditioner again. The cooling device is provided with a first coldwater header 2, second cold water header 4, cooling device main body 6,cooling tower 8, first pump 10, and second pump 12.

The first cold water header 2 receives cold water sent from othercooling devices not shown and cold water sent from the cooling devicemain body 6 so as to supply the cold water to air conditioners notshown. This cold water is included in the concept of a working fluid inthe present invention.

The second cold water header 4 receives cold water returned from the airconditioners not shown so as to supply the cold water to the othercooling devices not shown and the cooling device main body 6.

The cooling device main body 6 has a function to cool down cold waterreturned from the air conditioners so as to supply to the airconditioners again. The cooling device main body 6 has an evaporator 14,a compressor 16, and a condenser 18.

Cold water sent from the second cold water header 4 is introduced to theevaporator 14. The evaporator 14 evaporates part of cold water as willbe described later in order to cool down the cold water by theevaporation heat. That is, cold water also plays a role of arefrigerant. The first pump 10 is connected to the evaporator 14, wherecold water which was cooled down is supplied from the evaporator 14 tothe first cold water header 2 by driving the first pump 10.

The compressor 16 is connected between the evaporator 14 and thecondenser 18. To be more specific, the evaporator 14 is connected to asuction portion of the compressor 16, while the condenser 18 isconnected to a discharge portion of the compressor 16. The compressor 16has a moving blade and a stationary blade not shown, where refrigerantvapor evaporated in the evaporator 14 is sucked by driving the movingblade. The compressor 16 compresses sucked refrigerant vapor so as tosend to the condenser 18.

The condenser 18 cools down refrigerant vapor sent from the compressor16 by using cooling water in order to condense the refrigerant vapor.The condenser 18 is a heat exchanger of a direct heat exchange system,where the refrigerant vapor introduced into the condenser 18 iscondensed into cooling water so as to recharge water. Cooling watercirculates around the condenser 18, the second pump 12 and the coolingtower 8. That is, cooling water which was heated up by condensing therefrigerant vapor in the condenser 18 is sent from the condenser 18 tothe cooling tower 8 by driving the second pump 12. The cooling tower 8cools down received cooling water which is returned to low temperaturesand supplies the cooling water to the condenser 18. The condenser 18condenses the refrigerant vapor by cooling water returned from thecooing tower 8. A series of these processes are repeated in thecondenser 18, the second pump 12 and the cooling tower 8.

A detailed configuration of the evaporator 14 according to the firstembodiment will be explained referring to FIGS. 2 to 5.

The evaporator 14 according to the first embodiment evaporates part ofcold water in order to cool down the cold water by the evaporation heatas stated above, where the cold water also plays a role of arefrigerant. The evaporator 14 has a housing 22 as show in FIG. 2. Thehousing 22 is configured by a side wall portion 22 a of a cylindricalform having an axial center extending in the vertical direction, a topwall portion 22 b for covering an opening in an upper end of the sidewall portion 22 a, and a bottom wall portion 22 c for covering anopening in a lower end of the side wall portion 22 a.

The side wall portion 22 a is provided with a circular suction port 22d. The suction port 22 d is connected to the suction portion of thecompressor 16 (refer to FIG. 1). Refrigerant vapor is sucked out fromthe housing 22 to the suction portion of the compressor 16 through thesuction port 22 d. Pressure in the housing 22 is also reduced by asuction effect of the compressor 16 through the suction port 22 d.

The top wall portion 22 b is provided with an introduction port 22 e.The introduction port 22 e leads to the second cold water header 4(refer to FIG. 1). Therefore, cold water returned from the airconditioners is introduced into the housing 22 through the introductionport 22 e.

The bottom wall portion 22 c is provided with an exhaust port 22 f. Theexhaust port 22 f leads to the first pump 10 (refer to FIG. 1).Therefore, cold water cooled down in the housing 22 is exhausted throughthe exhaust port 22 f, and sent to the first cold water header 2 by thefirst pump 10.

In the housing 22, a top plate 24, bottom plate 26, reinforcing member28, filters 30, 30, porous plates 32, 32, and mesh members 34, 34 areprovided as shown in FIG. 4.

The top plate 24 defines an upper space in the housing 22. Accordingly,a first storage space S1 is configured in order to temporarily storecold water introduced through the introduction port 22 e. To be morespecific, the top plate 24 is arranged horizontally with a predeterminedgap to the top wall portion 22 b in an upper space in the housing 22.The first storage space S1 is configured between an upper surface of thetop plate 24 and a lower surface of the top wall portion 22 b. In thetop plate 24, a number of vertically penetrated through holes isprovided in a portion corresponding to a pair of generation spaces S3which will be described later. Cold water in the first storage space S1is shed in a shower form through the through holes.

The bottom plate 26 partially and vertically defines a lower space inthe housing 22. Accordingly, a second storage space S2 is configured inorder to temporarily store cold water which was shed from the firststorage space S1 and cooled down. To be more specific, the bottom plate26 is arranged horizontally with a predetermined gap to the bottom wallportion 22 c in a lower space in the housing 22. The second storagespace S2 is configured between a lower surface of the bottom plate 26and an upper surface of the bottom wall portion 22 c. The bottom plate26 is formed in a substantially fan shape, and arranged in the housing22 so that regions through which cold water shed from the first storagespace S1 passes are left on both ends of the bottom plate whileshielding other regions. That is, the cold water is shed in the secondstorage space S2 by passing through the spaces on both ends which arenot shielded by the bottom plate 26.

The reinforcing member 28 is arranged so as to extend in the verticaldirection at a position corresponding to the axial center of the housing22. The reinforcing member 28 couples the top plate 24 and the bottomplate 26, and reinforces the top plate 24 and the bottom plate 26.

The pair of the filters 30,30 is arranged between the top plate 24 andthe bottom plate 26, separating the generation spaces S3 for generatinga droplet or misty refrigerant (or cold water) from a communicationspace S4 for communicating with the suction port 22 d. That is, thegeneration spaces S3 are configured between the respective filters 30and internal surfaces of the side wall 22 a of the housing 22, while thecommunication space S4 is configured between the both filters 30,30. Thegeneration spaces S3 are included in the concept of the first space inthe present invention. The communication space S4 is also included inthe concept of the second space in the present invention. The filters 30transmit vapor resulting from evaporation of a droplet or mistyrefrigerant (or cold water) generated in the generation spaces S3, whilecapturing a droplet or misty refrigerant (or cold water) so as toprevent transmission thereof.

To be more specific, the filters 30 are made of a material formed ofinterlaced mesh-like fibers in a mat shape or other materials. Thefilters 30 are loaded by being erected on an upper surface of the bottomplate 26, and upper end portions of the filters 30 are connected to alower surface of the top plate 24. Both of the filters 30,30 arearranged in contrast in left and right ends by using the axial center ofthe suction port 22 d as a center. Each of the filters 30 is arrangedobliquely to the axial center of the suction port 22 d so that adistance from a first end portion 30 a (refer to FIG. 3) to the suctionport 22 d is longer than a distance from a second end portion 30 b(refer to FIG. 3) to the suction port 22 d in a width direction of thefilter.

Each of the generation spaces S3 is provided with the porous plate 32and the mesh member 34. The porous plates 32 are arranged horizontallybelow the top plate 24 with an interval. The mesh members 34 arearranged horizontally below the porous plates 32 with an interval. Arefrigerant (or cold water) to be shed through the through holes of theporous plates 3 is shed in finer droplets through the mesh of the meshmembers 34. At this time, a refrigerant (or cold water) occasionallybecomes finer in the form of mist. Pressure in the housing 22 is reducedby a suction effect of the compressor 16, so that part of droplet ormisty cold water is evaporated in the generation spaces S3. Refrigerantvapor generated by this evaporation is sucked out from the generationspaces S3 to the communication space S4 by being transmitted through thefilters 30, and sucked out into the suction portion of the compressor 16through the suction port 22 d.

In the first embodiment, the filters 30 are inclined away from thesuction port 22 d as advancing upward as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thatis, the filters 30 are inclined by a predetermined angle from avertically erected state in a direction that upper end portions of thefilters 30 approach the side wall portion 22 a of the housing 22 bywhich the generation spaces S3 are surrounded.

Operation when cold water is cooled down in the evaporator 14 of thefirst embodiment will be explained.

Cold water which was heated up by heat exchange in the air conditionersand returned to the evaporator 14 is introduced into the first storagespace S1 from the introduction port 22 e of the housing 22. Theintroduced cold water is stored in the first storage space S1 and shedin a shower form in both of the generation spaces S3, S3 through thethrough holes of the top plate 24. The cold water shed in a shower formis shed through mesh of the mesh members 34 in a finer, droplet form. Atthis time, cold water occasionally turns into a mist form which is finerthan droplets.

Pressure in the housing 22 is reduced by a suction effect of thecompressor 16 through the suction port 22 d. Therefore, part of thedroplet or misty cold water is evaporated and turns into refrigerantvapor. Cold water is cooled down by evaporation heat obtained at thistime. Refrigerant vapor generated in the generation spaces S3 istransmitted through the filters 30 by a suction effect of the compressor16, and sucked out through the suction port 22 d. Meanwhile, part ofdroplet or misty cold water in the generation spaces S3 is also suckedtoward the suction port 22 d, but the filters 30 capture such droplet ormisty cold water and prevent transmission thereof, so that the dropletor misty cold water is not sucked out to the suction port of thecompressor 16.

A plurality of cold water particles captured by the filters 30 areunited and increased, followed by flowing downward by gravity. At thistime, cold water captured by the filter 30 is entirely shed on thegeneration spaces S3 side rather than the surfaces 30 a of the filters30 facing to the communication space S4 as shown in FIG. 5 because thefilters 30 are inclined away from the suction port 22 d as advancingupward. To be more specific, almost all cold water captured by thefilters 30 flows downward so as to be shed in the generation spaces S3from the surfaces 30 b of the filters 30 facing to the generation spacesS3. However, cold water captured in a lower portion of the filters 30flows down by being transmitted through lower end surfaces of thefilters 30 without reaching the surfaces 30 b facing to the generationspaces S3 even if it flows downward.

The droplet or misty cold water which was shed in the generation spacesS3, and cold water which was captured by the filters 30 and flowingdownward, are made to flow into the second storage space S2. In thesecond storage space S2, cold water flowing thereinto is stored and thecold water is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust port 22 f.The cold water is sent to the first cold water header 2 by the firstpump 10, followed by being supplied to the respective air conditionersfrom the first cold water header 2. Operation to cool down cold water isthus carried out in the evaporator 14.

As explained above, the filters 30 for dividing the generation spaces S3for generating droplet or misty cold water and the communication spaceS4 for communicating with the suction port 22 d are inclined away fromthe suction port 22 d as advancing upward in the housing 22 in the firstembodiment. Therefore, cold water captured by the filters 30 is entirelyshed on the generation spaces S3 side rather than the surfaces 30 a ofthe filters 30 facing to the suction port 22 d. Accordingly, it is madepossible to prevent shedding of cold water droplets from the filters 30to the communication space S4, and splashes generated by shedding of thedroplets, so that sucking out such droplets and splashes from thesuction port 22 d to the suction portion of the compressor 16 can beprevented. As a result, it is made possible to prevent the moving bladeof the compressor 16 from being damaged due to collision with thedroplets and splashes, which allows service life of the compressor to beextended.

Second Embodiment

A configuration of the evaporator 14 according to a second embodiment ofthe present invention will be described referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

In the second embodiment, each of the filters 40 arranged in the housing22 is divided into a plurality of filters, which differs from the firstembodiment. To be more specific, each of the filters 40 is divided intoa plurality (three in this embodiment) of filter members 41 arranged inthe vertical direction as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each of the filtermembers 41 is inclined away from the suction port 22 d as advancingupward at a substantially equivalent angle. That is, each of the filtermembers 41 is inclined by a predetermined angle from a verticallyerected state in a direction that an upper end portion of the filtermember approaches the side wall portion 22 a of the housing 22 by whichthe generation spaces S3 are surrounded. Each of the filter members 41is inclined at an angle which allows a position of a corner portionfacing to the communication space S4 in an upper end portion of thefilter member to be substantially consistent with a position of a cornerportion facing to the generation space S3 in a lower end portion of thefilter member in the horizontal direction. Each of the filter members 41is vertically arranged so that a horizontally directed position of acorner portion facing to the generation space S3 in a lower end portionof the filter member 41 is substantially consistent with a horizontallydirected position of a corner portion facing to the communication spaceS4 in an upper end portion of the other filter member 41 positionedbelow the filter member 41. Each of the filter members 41 may beinclined at a larger angle than the above predetermined angle toward thegeneration space S3 side. In this case, an interval may be providedbetween the horizontally directed position of the corner portion facingto the generation space S3 in the lower end portion of the filter member41 and the horizontally directed position of the corner portion facingto the communication space S4 in the upper end portion of the otherfilter member 41 positioned below the filter member 41.

Cold water receiving members 42 are arranged between the filter members41, 41 disposed adjacently in the vertical direction. The cold waterreceiving members 42 receive cold water captured by the filter members41 and flowing downward, while permitting the cold water to flow intothe generation spaces S3. Each of the cold water receiving members 42has a receiving plate portion 42 a and an erected portion 42 b.

The receiving plate portion 42 a is a member to receive cold watercaptured by the filter member 41 and flowing downward. The receivingplate portion 42 a is made of a horizontally arranged plate, extendingin a width direction of the filter member 41. The receiving plateportion 42 a is arranged between a lower end surface of thepredetermined filter member 41 and an upper end surface of the otherfilter member 41 positioned below the predetermined filter member 41.The receiving plate portion 42 a covers an entire lower end surface ofthe predetermined filter member 41 by its upper surface, and covers anentire upper end surface of the other filter member 41 positioned belowthe predetermined filter member 41 by its lower surface. However, thereceiving plate portion 42 a of the cold water receiving members 42disposed in a lowest position covers only a lower end surface of thefilter member 41 loaded onto the receiving plate portion 42 a.

The erected portion 42 b prevents splashes of cold water received by thereceiving plate portion 42 a toward the suction port 22 d, and sheddingof cold water received by the receiving plate portion 42 a from an endportion of the receiving plate portion 42 a to the communication spaceS4. The erected portion 42 b is erected on the receiving plate portion42 a at a position closer to the communication space S4 side (or thesuction port 22 d side) than the filter member 41 on the receiving plateportion 42 a. To be more specific, the erected portion 42 b is erectedon an end portion of the receiving plate portion 42 a on thecommunication space S4 side. The erected portion 42 b extends in thelongitudinal direction of the receiving plate portion 42 a, beingarranged across an entire range of the receiving plate portion 42 a inthe longitudinal direction.

Configuration other than the aforementioned configuration of theevaporator 14 according to the second embodiment is similar to that ofthe evaporator 14 according to the first embodiment.

Operation when cold water is cooled down in the evaporator 14 of thesecond embodiment will be described.

When cold water is cooled down in the evaporator 14 of the secondembodiment, part of droplet or misty cold water generated in thegeneration spaces S3 is captured by each of the filter members 41. Coldwater captured by each of the filter members 41 is entirely shed in thegeneration spaces S3 side rather than a surface 41 a of each of thefilter members 41 facing to the communication space S4 as shown in FIG.7, because each of the filter members 41 is inclined away from thesuction port 22 d as advancing upward.

Cold water which was shed as stated above is received by the receivingplate portions 42 a of the cold water receiving members 42. The erectedportions 42 b prevent the received cold water from splashing toward thesuction port 22 d or being shed in the communication spaces S4 due to asuction effect of the compressor 16. When cold water is saved on thereceiving plate portions 42 a to some extent, the cold water is shedfrom end portions of the receiving plate portions 42 a on the generationspaces S3 side to the generation spaces S3 by overflowing.

Operation other than the aforementioned operation in cooling down coldwater in the evaporator 14 according to the second embodiment is similarto that of the evaporator 14 according to the first embodiment.

As explained above, the respective filter members 41 to constitute thefilters 40 are inclined away from the suction port 22 d as advancingupward in the second embodiment. Therefore, cold water captured by eachof the filter members 41 is entirely shed on the generation spaces S3side rather than the surface 41 a of the filter member 41 facing to thesuction port 22 d. Therefore, it is made possible to prevent shedding ofcold water droplets from the filters 40 to the communication spaces S4,and splashes generated by shedding of the droplets, so that sucking outsuch droplets and splashes from the suction port 22 d to the suctionportion of the compressor 16 can be prevented. As a result, it is madepossible to prevent the moving blade of the compressor 16 from beingdamaged due to collision with the droplets and splashes, which allowsservice life of the compressor to be extended.

Moreover, the filters 40 are divided into the plurality of the filtermembers 41 arranged in the vertical direction and each of the filtermembers 41 is inclined as stated above in the second embodiment, so thatan area occupied by the entire filters 40 in the horizontal directioncan be reduced in comparison with the case where one undivided filter isinclined at the same angle with each of the filter members 41.Therefore, enlargement of the evaporator 14 can be suppressed in thehorizontal direction. In other words, each of the filter members 41 inthe second embodiment can be inclined larger than the filters 30 of thefirst embodiment. Accordingly, it is possible to make cold watercaptured by the filter 40 more difficult to flow into the communicationspaces S4.

Furthermore, the second embodiment is provided with the cold waterreceiving members 42 having the receiving plate portions 42 a forreceiving cold water captured by the respective filter members 41 andflowing downward, and the erected portions 42 b erected on the receivingplate portions 42 a at a position closer to the suction port 22 d side(or the communication space S4 side) than the filter members 41 arrangedon the receiving plate portions 42 a. Therefore, cold water captured bythe filter members 41 and flowing downward is received by the receivingplate portions 42 a, where the received cold water can be prevented fromsplashing toward the suction port 22 d and being shed in thecommunication spaces S4 by the erected portions 42 b. Therefore, coldwater received, by the receiving plate portions 42 a is shed from endportions of the receiving plate portions 42 a on the generation spacesS3 side to the generation spaces S3 by overflowing. Cold water shed intothe generation spaces S3 is not sucked out from the suction port 22 d bybeing shielded in the filter members 41 even if it is sucked by thecompressor 16. Therefore, it is made possible to prevent the movingblade of the compressor 16 from being damaged due to collision caused bysucking out cold water captured by the filter members 41 and flowingdownward.

Third Embodiment

A configuration of the evaporator 14 according to a third embodiment ofthe present invention will be explained referring to FIG. 8.

In the third embodiment, receiving plate portions 52 a of cold waterreceiving members 52 are inclined downward from the communication spaceS4 to the generation spaces S3 in its width direction (i.e. passingdirection of refrigerant vapor resulting from evaporation of coldwater), which differs from the second embodiment. To be more specific,each of filters 50 is divided into a plurality (three in thisembodiment) of filter members 51 arranged in the vertical direction. Anupper end surface and a lower end surface of each of the filter members51 are inclined downward from the communication space S4 to thegeneration space S3. The receiving plate portions 52 a of the cold waterreceiving members 52 are also inclined downward from the communicationspace S4 to the generation spaces S3 in a width direction thereof. Thatis, the upper end surface and the lower end surface of each of thefilter members 51 and each of the receiving plate portions 52 a arearranged so as to be higher on the communication space S4 side and loweron the generation space S3 side. Therefore, cold water captured by thefilter members 51 and flowing downward is received by the receivingplate portions 52 a and shed in the generation spaces S3 by flowing downalong the inclination of the receiving plate portions 52 a.

Erected portions 52 b are also erected on end portions of the receivingplate portions 52 a on the communication space S4 side (or the suctionport 22 d side). The erected portions 52 b have a function similar tothat of the erected portions 42 b according to the second embodiment.

Configuration and operation other than the aforementioned configurationand operation of the evaporator 14 according to the third embodiment aresimilar to those of the evaporator 14 according to the secondembodiment.

As explained above, the receiving plate portions 52 a are inclineddownward from the communication space S4 to the generation spaces S3 inthe third embodiment, so that cold water captured by the filter members51 and flowing downward can be received by the receiving plate portions52 a and the cold water can be made to flow into the generation spacesS3. Therefore, cold water captured by the filter members 51 and flowingdownward can be prevented from being sucked out by the compressor 16more certainly.

Effects other than the aforementioned effects of the third embodimentare similar to those of the second embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment

A configuration of the evaporator 14 according to a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention will be explained referring to FIG. 9.

In the fourth embodiment, receiving plate portions 62 a are inclined inthe longitudinal direction, which differs from the second embodiment. Tobe more specific, filters 60 according to the fourth embodiment aredivided into a plurality of filter members 61 arranged in the verticaldirection. Each of the filter members 61 has a first end portion 61 awhich is one of end portions in the width direction, and a second endportion 61 b which is the other end portion in the width direction. Eachof the filter members 61 is arranged obliquely to the axial center ofthe suction port 22 d so that the second end portion 61 b is disposedcloser to the suction port 22 d than the first end portion 61 a. Thereceiving plate portions 62 a of each of cold water receiving members 62has a first end portion 63 a which is one of end portions in thelongitudinal direction, and a second end portion 63 b which is the otherend portion in the longitudinal direction. Each of the receiving plateportions 62 a is arranged obliquely to the axial center of the suctionport 22 d so that the second end portion 63 b is disposed closer to thesuction port 22 d than the first end portion 63 a.

An upper end surface and a lower end surface of each of the filtermembers 61 are inclined downward as advancing from the second endportion 61 b to the first end portion 61 a. However, an upper endsurface 61 d of the filter member 61 c disposed in a highest position isarrange horizontally. The receiving plate portions 62 a are inclineddownward as advancing from the second end portions 63 b to the first endportions 63 a. Therefore, cold water captured by the filter members 61and flowing downward is received by the receiving plate portions 62 aand shed from the first end portions 63 a by flowing down in a directionaway from the suction port 22 d along the inclination of the receivingplate portions 62 a.

Configuration and operation other than the aforementioned configurationand operation of the evaporator 14 according to the fourth embodimentare similar to those of the evaporator 14 according to the secondembodiment.

As explained above, the receiving plate portions 62 a are inclineddownward as advancing to the opposite first end portions 63 a from thesecond end portions 63 b disposed closer to the suction port 22 d in thefourth embodiment. Therefore, cold water received by the receiving plateportions 62 a can be shed from the first end portions 63 a being endportions away from the suction port 22 d. That is, a position to shedcold water from the receiving plate portions 62 a can be set to be awayfrom the suction port 22 d, so that cold water shed from the receivingplate portions 62 a can be more certainly prevented from being suckedout by the compressor 16 in comparison with the case where cold water isshed from the receiving plate portions 62 a at a position closer to thesuction port 22 d.

Effects other than the aforementioned effects of the fourth embodimentare similar to those of the second embodiment.

The embodiments disclosed here should be considered as being entirelyexemplary and unlimited. A range of the present invention is notindicated by the above explanation of the embodiments, but by a range ofclaims, where changes made within a meaning and range equal to the rangeof the claims are entirely included in the present invention.

For example, the receiving plate portions 62 a horizontally disposed inthe width direction are inclined in the longitudinal direction in thefourth embodiment, but it is not limited and the receiving plateportions 62 a of the fourth embodiment inclined in the longitudinaldirection may be further inclined in the width direction in the samemanner with the third embodiment.

Moreover, the erected portions 52 b are provided in the cold waterreceiving members 52 in the third embodiment, but the erected portions52 b may be omitted. That is, when the receiving plate portions 52 a areinclined downward from the communication space S4 to the generationspaces S3 as shown in the third embodiment, cold water received by thereceiving plate portions 52 a flows into the generation spaces S3, sothat it is possible to prevent cold water received by the receivingplate portions 52 a from splashing toward the suction port 22 d andbeing shed in the communication space S4 without providing the erectedportions 52 b. Therefore, the erected portions 52 b can be omitted inthe third embodiment.

The receiving plate portions 52 a of the cold water receiving members 52may be configured to extend over the edge of upper end surfaces of thefilter members 51 on the generation spaces S3 side as shown in amodified example of the third embodiment of FIG. 10. According to thisconfiguration, cold water droplets flowing down from the receiving plateportions 52 a can be prevented from being attached to the filter members51 disposed directly below the receiving plate portions 52 a.

Configuration of the cold water receiving members is not limited to theconfiguration shown in each of the above embodiments. For example, thecold water receiving members may be configured in a shape of a boxcontainer into which a lower portion of the filter member is inserted.In this case, a bottom portion of the container is included in theconcept of the receiving plate portion in the present invention, and aside wall portion of the container facing to the communication space S4(or the suction port 22 d) is included in the concept of the erectedportion in the present invention. Exhaust holes for permitting coldwater to flow into the generation spaces S3 is provided in a lowerportion of such a container, so that cold water captured by the filtermembers and flowing downward can be received by the container and madeto flow into the generation spaces S3.

Moreover, configuration of the filters is not limited to theconfiguration shown in each of the above embodiments. For example, it ispossible to similarly apply the present invention to the case where afilter has a curved horizontal cross section so as to be swelled on thegeneration space S3 side and the case where four filters are arranged toexhibit a W shape in a horizontal cross section and other cases.

Furthermore, a device to which the evaporator 14 is applied is notlimited to the cooling device as explained in the first embodiment.

Outline of the Present Embodiments

The present embodiments are summarized as follows.

The evaporator according to the present embodiments is provided with thehousing having the suction port connectable to the suction portion ofthe compressor in order to evaporate at least part of a droplet or mistyworking fluid in the housing by a suction effect of the compressorthrough the suction port. The evaporator comprises a filter installed inthe housing, the filter dividing a space in the housing into the firstspace for generating the droplet or misty working fluid and the secondspace for communicating with the suction port, the filter being inclinedaway from the suction port as advancing upward, and the filtertransmitting therethrough vapor resulting from evaporation of thedroplet or misty fluid while capturing the droplet or misty workingfluid.

In this evaporator, the filter for dividing a space in the housing intothe first space for generating the droplet or misty working fluid andthe second space for communicating with the suction port is inclinedaway from the suction port as advancing upward. Therefore, a workingfluid captured by the filter is entirely shed on the first space siderather than the surface facing to the suction port of the filter.Accordingly, it is made possible to prevent shedding of working fluiddroplets from the filter to the second space for communicating with thesuction port, and splashes generated by shedding of the droplets, sothat sucking out such droplets and splashes from the suction port to thesuction portion of the compressor can be prevented. As a result, it ismade possible to prevent the moving blade of the compressor from beingdamaged due to collision with the droplets and splashes, which allowsservice life of the compressor to be extended.

Moreover, the evaporator according to the present embodiments isprovided with the housing having the suction port connectable to thesuction portion of the compressor in order to evaporate at least part ofa droplet or misty working fluid in the housing by a suction effect ofthe compressor through the suction port. The evaporator comprises afilter installed in the housing, the filter dividing a space in thehousing into the first space for generating the droplet or misty workingfluid and the second space for communicating with the suction port, thefilter transmitting therethrough vapor resulting from evaporation of thedroplet or misty working fluid while capturing the droplet or mistyworking fluid. The filter is divided into the plurality of the filtermembers disposed in the vertical direction, and each of the filtermembers is inclined away from the suction port as advancing upward.

In this evaporator, each of the filter members to constitute the filterfor dividing the first space for generating the droplet or misty workingfluid and the second space for communicating with the suction port isinclined away from the suction port as advancing upward. Therefore, aworking fluid captured by each of the filter members is entirely shed onthe first space side rather than the surface of the filter member facingto the suction port. Accordingly, it is made possible to preventshedding of working fluid droplets from the filter to the second spacefor communicating with the suction port, and splashes generated byshedding of the droplets, so that sucking out such droplets and splashesfrom the suction port to the suction portion of the compressor can beprevented. As a result, it is made possible to prevent the moving bladeof the compressor from being damaged due to collision with the dropletsand splashes, which allows service life of the compressor to beextended. Moreover, the filter is divided into the plurality of thefilter members arranged in the vertical direction and each of the filtermembers is inclined as stated above in this evaporator, so that an areaoccupied by the entire filters in the horizontal direction can bedecreased in comparison with the case where one undivided filter isinclined at the same angle with the each of the above filter members.Therefore, enlargement of the evaporator can be suppressed in thehorizontal direction.

The evaporator having the filter which is divided into the pluralityfilter members preferably comprises the receiving plate portion arrangedbetween two of the adjacent filter members disposed in the verticaldirection, the receiving plate portion receiving the working fluidcaptured by the upper filter member thereof and flowing downward, andthe erected portion erected on the receiving plate portion at a positioncloser to the suction port than the upper filter member. According tothis configuration, a working fluid captured by the filter member andflowing downward can be received by the receiving plate portion, wherethe erected portion prevents the received working fluid from splashingtoward the suction port and being shed in the second space. Therefore, aworking fluid received by the receiving plate portion is shed from theend portion of the receiving plate portion on the first space side byoverflowing. A working fluid shed in the first space is not sucked outfrom the suction port by being shielded in the filter member even if itis sucked by the compressor. As a result, it is made possible to preventthe moving blade of the compressor from being damaged due to collisioncaused by sucking out a working fluid captured by the filter member andflowing downward.

In this case, the receiving plate portion is preferably inclineddownward from the second space to the first space. According to thisconfiguration, a working fluid captured by the filter member and flowingdownward can be received by the receiving plate portion, and the workingfluid is allowed to flow into the first space. Therefore, a workingfluid captured by the filter member and flowing downward can beprevented from being sucked out by the compressor more certainly in thisconfiguration.

The evaporator having the filter which is divided into the pluralityfilter members preferably comprises the receiving plate portion arrangedbetween two of the adjacent filter members disposed in the verticaldirection, the receiving plate portion receiving the working fluidcaptured by the upper filter member thereof and flowing downward,wherein the receiving plate portion is inclined downward from the secondspace to the first space. According to this configuration, a workingfluid captured by the filter member and flowing downward can be receivedby the receiving plate portion, and the working fluid is allowed to flowinto the first space. Therefore, a working fluid captured by the filtermember and flowing downward can be prevented from being sucked out bythe compressor more certainly in this configuration.

In the configuration including the receiving plate portion, thereceiving plate portion preferably has the first end portion and thesecond end portion closer to the suction port than the first endportion, wherein the receiving plate portion is inclined downward fromthe second end portion to the first end portion. According to thisconfiguration, a working fluid received by the receiving plate portioncan be shed from the first end portion which is an end portion away fromthe suction port. That is, a position to shed a working fluid from thereceiving plate portion can be set to be away from the suction port, sothat a working fluid which is shed from the receiving plate portion canbe prevented from being sucked out by the compressor more certainly, incomparison with the case where a working fluid is shed from thereceiving plate portion at a position closer to the suction port.

Moreover, the cooling device according to the present embodimentscomprises any one of the aforementioned evaporators, wherein cooling isperformed by using evaporation heat obtained when at least part of thedroplet or misty working fluid is evaporated.

Since this cooling device is provided with any one of the aforementionedevaporators, an effect of extending service life of the compressor,which is similar to that of the aforementioned evaporators, can beobtained.

1. An evaporator provided with a housing having a suction portconnectable to a suction portion of a compressor in order to evaporateat least part of a droplet or misty working fluid in the housing by asuction effect of the compressor through the suction port, comprising; afilter installed in the housing, the filter dividing a space in thehousing into a first space for generating the droplet or misty workingfluid and a second space for communicating with the suction port, thefilter being inclined away from the suction port as advancing upward,the filter transmitting therethrough vapor resulting from evaporation ofthe droplet or misty working fluid while capturing the droplet or mistyworking fluid.
 2. An evaporator provided with a housing having a suctionport connectable to a suction portion of a compressor in order toevaporate at least part of a droplet or misty working fluid in thehousing by a suction effect of the compressor through the suction port,comprising; a filter installed in the housing, the filter dividing aspace in the housing into a first space for generating the droplet ormisty working fluid and a second space for communicating with thesuction port, the filter transmitting therethrough vapor resulting fromevaporation of the droplet or misty working fluid while capturing thedroplet or misty working fluid, wherein the filter is divided into aplurality of filter members disposed in a vertical direction, each ofthe filter members being inclined away from the suction port asadvancing upward.
 3. The evaporator according to claim 2, furthercomprising; a receiving plate portion arranged between two adjacentfilter members disposed in the vertical direction, the receiving plateportion receiving the working fluid captured by an upper filter memberthereof and flowing downward; and an erected portion erected on thereceiving plate portion at a position closer to the suction port thanthe upper filter member.
 4. The evaporator according to claim 3, whereinthe receiving plate portion is inclined downward from the second spaceto the first space.
 5. The evaporator according to claim 2, furthercomprising; a receiving plate portion arranged between two adjacentfilter members disposed in the vertical direction, the receiving plateportion receiving the working fluid captured by an upper filter memberthereof and flowing downward, wherein the receiving plate portion isinclined downward from the second space to the first space.
 6. Theevaporator according to claim 3, wherein; the receiving plate portionhas a first end portion and a second end portion closer to the suctionport than the first end portion; and the receiving plate portion isinclined downward from the second end portion to the first end portion.7. A cooling device, comprising the evaporator according to claim 1,wherein cooling is performed by using evaporation heat obtained when atleast part of the droplet or misty working fluid is evaporated.
 8. Theevaporator according to claim 5, wherein; the receiving plate portionhas a first end portion and a second end portion closer to the suctionport than the first end portion; and the receiving plate portion isinclined downward from the second end portion to the first end portion.9. A cooling device, comprising the evaporator according to claim 2,wherein cooling is performed by using evaporation heat obtained when atleast part of the droplet or misty working fluid is evaporated.